tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-204425342018-05-22T14:33:03.093-04:00Blissful HikingFulfill Your Hiking Dream! Here to help fellow hikers by offering wisdom, ideas, and lessons learned from a two-time AT North and South, Long Trail, Foothills Trail, Allegheny Trail, Colorado Trail, Florida Trail, Shenandoah Nat'l Park 500 miler completions. Former AT Ridgerunner for six years, Author, Speaker on Hiking and BackpackingLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-91041173617760599462018-05-16T18:00:00.000-04:002018-05-16T18:00:17.958-04:00Wow, I Hurt from Backpacking! 9 Ways to Prevent It
"Oh, do I hurt!"
You’ve likely heard and said those words many times after a backpacking trip. That unpleasant feeling of soreness. It can come from just carrying a backpack (sometimes with too much weight in it or not properly fitted) to the harsh terrain day after day on foot and leg muscles not used to such rigors.
An overstuffed pack coupled with the terrain can make you sore
The Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-60376804723322941182018-05-09T15:00:00.000-04:002018-05-09T15:00:06.538-04:00The Ticks Are Out! Get Defensive Now
It's tick season and they are out in full force! Now more than ever it seems new diseases and other issues are evolving concerning this pest. I see more hikers worried about bears in the Appalachians, but what they really need to be concerned about is this very tiny menace that can wreck havoc on your body and cause a variety of illnesses.
Here are the top ten ways to prevent this Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-58546755450349356382018-01-23T22:46:00.000-05:002018-01-23T22:46:12.514-05:00Blissful Trail Journals
While Blissful is out hiking the Florida Trail - Part Two this winter,
Florida Trail, Part One
feel free to check out previous journals on
my hiking adventures and stay tuned for more lessons learned when I return!
(NEW) Colorado Trail Journal
Florida Trail Journal - Part One
Allegheny Trail of West Virginia
Long Trail of Vermont
Mt Mansfield on the Long Trail
Foothills Trail
Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-31656096787760898742018-01-15T09:00:00.000-05:002018-01-15T09:00:25.181-05:00Don't Forget Your Permits for Your 2018 Hike! Don't Forget!
The Wonderland Trail circles Mt Rainier
In several places in the western states, permits are required for popular backpacking ventures and are done by lottery or are first come, first served. And some backcountry use / camping reservations in the east are also required. Other trails, usually within national parks, require backcountry camping permits and are obtainable when you Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-14313630410719837032018-01-07T21:57:00.000-05:002018-01-08T10:49:18.915-05:005 Ways to go-fund Your Long Distance Hike
I just saw a post on a Facebook group of two hikers that set
up a fundraiser on GoFundMe so folks can donate to their upcoming long distance
hike. I must say, it raised my ire. To ask for money to fund a hike when there
are people that need the cash--their house burned down, their loved ones are facing
incurable illnesses, they have fallen on bad times—seems selfish and immature to
me. It showsLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-69775917566399185612017-12-31T15:21:00.002-05:002017-12-31T15:21:03.230-05:00What a Year of Blissful Hiking
2017 ended up being a year of great hiking adventures across several states!
The Florida Trail:
What began at the end of 2016 in the Great Cypress Swamp started up once more in earnest in 2017
as I continued to trek north through the state of Florida. 2017 saw me by the Kissimmee River, around Orlando, and through the Ocala National Forest to the halfway point. I also secured a book Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-8343352215138653872017-12-17T20:16:00.000-05:002017-12-17T19:39:12.345-05:00Day Hiking in the Winter
Winter snow and ice on the Pocosin Hollow trail in Shenandoah National Park
A day hike
in the winter can be a wonderful experience. Cold, brisk days. Outstanding
views you can’t see in the summer. No insects. Few visitors. Ice sculptures on
cliff faces and waterfalls.
But it also
requires some careful planning so it becomes an experience to treasure and not
to dread. Winter hiking usuallyLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-23580115746916867862017-12-06T20:53:00.000-05:002017-12-06T20:53:31.355-05:00Some Gear Favs from Blissful HikingHere are some of Blissful Hiking's favorite gear picks; it has not changed, I STILL love this stuff... :)
The Evernew water bottle. Compatible with the Sawyer squeeze filter (see below which has blown out my Platypus and a substitution for the Sawyer bags which also fail. Bombproof, works great.
Socks are a hiker's best friend, and it might as well be a pair that works great and lasts Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-4064468657880480592017-11-15T15:17:00.000-05:002017-11-15T15:17:47.154-05:00A Mother's Pride
This guest blog is from a mother who sent her daughter off an adventure along the Appalachian Trail. It serves as a wonderful reminder for women to achieve their hiking dream (and never let anyone tell you it can't be done)!
A Mother's Pride by Sylvia Krakar
My daughter just did a NOBO (northbound) on the AT (Appalachian Trail). She set out on March 27th 2017 and finished September 26, 2017.
Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-1458442795517841952017-10-25T20:39:00.000-04:002017-10-25T20:39:08.803-04:00Lightening that Backpacking Load
One of the things I love to do as a hiker advocate, educator, and ridgerunner is helping hikers eliminate unnecessary weight from their packs in what's called a pack shakedown.
I had the opportunity to do this many times, and with good results. In one shakedown, the young hiker was dead
tired after only four miles and ready to quit. Not only was that hiker carrying heavy
items like a seven poundLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-38247824011214541032017-10-16T15:00:00.000-04:002017-10-16T15:00:04.391-04:00Hiking Safety During Hunting Season from the ATC
(This is reposted from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy web site. They are good reminders as we are now in the main hunting season. Be extra vigilant. I did a good portion of my southbound hike during hunting season, on the Tuscarora Trail and the Allegheny Trail. Many times you are sharing the trail with hunters carrying rifles and with their dogs. Several times I heard rifle shots quite Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-53495689613098333022017-10-11T17:00:00.000-04:002017-10-11T17:00:27.850-04:00Safety and Hikes in the Fall Season
Max Patch in NC
There’s nothing better than a backpacking trip in the
woods at the peak of leaf change. The air is crisp, the colors of the changing
leaves brilliant, and the expectation is there for adventure and recreation. With that in mind, here are a
few tips that will help your trip go smoother and more enjoyable.
Changing Weather – Fall can be a time of changing
weather patterns. Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-9339766756783917722017-10-06T09:00:00.000-04:002017-10-06T09:00:08.020-04:00I Need Water – 7 Things You Can Do in Dry Conditions
Fall is here and so too water can dry up - here are some reminders on what you can do when water is low on the trail -
It has been very dry all along the Appalachians in the Eastern US, prompting lots of worry in hiking circles about water
availability for fall hikes.
So what can you do to prepare or while on a backpacking trip?
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.
<!--[endif]-->Try to Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-82035317095853446742017-10-03T20:37:00.002-04:002017-10-04T13:40:28.135-04:00The Colorado Trail – Part Two – Acclimating to the Altitude
(This is a series of blogs related to a thru hike of the Colorado Trail – Durango to Denver, August 20-September 26, 2017)
I am an eastern dweller at approx. 800 feet elevation. And I
am going to spend day two of my hike heading northbound on the Colorado Trail climbing to 12,000 feet. BIG difference in elevation for sure. And one I need to prep
for, even as I prep for other parts of my hikeLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-78328904993604199522017-08-20T10:01:00.000-04:002017-08-20T10:01:08.560-04:00Guest Blog - A Change of Plans? Focus on the Positive
A Change of Plans? Focus on the Positive
By Dallas Gallmann
After 4 long
weeks I finally got my cast off and have gone into a walking boot for another 3
weeks before I start physical therapy.
I set off on
the trail last month in order to do some soul searching but God had a different
plan for me. My trip ended early after a fall and it may sound cliche but I
went to the trail to learn Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-30385311118949557372017-08-13T21:51:00.002-04:002018-04-05T19:32:52.606-04:00The Colorado Trail - Part One - Preparing for the Long Distance Hike
This year I am embarking on a new long distance venture that
will take me into high altitude for multiple days and away from the typical eastern
US hiking trips I have enjoyed in the past.
My plan is to hike the 486 mile Colorado Trail (CT) that
extends from Denver to Durango in the beautiful and wild Rocky Mountains.
Most hikers plan their trip to leave from Waterton Canyon
south of Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-67217084397581438332017-07-29T21:40:00.001-04:002017-07-29T21:40:46.981-04:00Don’t You Love Getting Trail Magic?
I did.
Seeing those coolers, sitting by their
lonesome, brimming with goodies just for a hard hiker like me.
But things have changed….
I have changed.
Why?
Because of this.
Bear wrecks a thru hiker tent. 2017.
And this.
I have seen gear damaged and hikers lose money by animals
that have received food rewards in one form or another. Including my own tent thatLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-41578256125077175142017-06-29T13:00:00.000-04:002017-06-29T13:00:30.429-04:00Campfire Talk
Okay, let's talk campfire lingo. Snap. Spark. Heat. Glow. Entertainment. S'mores. People-pleaser.
Fires seem to be the mainstay of an evening sojourn in the woods. Done properly and with care, they can add to an evening. Who doesn't like to share tales around the embers? Or roast marshmellows? Or take the chill out of a cool evening?
Unfortunately, more often than not, campfires are tools Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-29438632930575155072017-06-15T16:00:00.000-04:002017-06-15T16:00:28.657-04:00Preventing Heat-Related Ilnesses while Backpacking and Hiking
Reposting this after seeing an article about a hiker with failing organs due to sunstroke. Be careful out there, esp with the humidity also!!
It’s the height of summer and time for great hikes. But it’s
also time that heat-related illness can affect you while exerting yourself in
hot temperatures.
The two heat-related illnesses one needs to look out for are
heat exhaustion and Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-25607260464175543482017-06-01T17:00:00.000-04:002017-06-01T17:00:22.191-04:00Bear Facts of the Trail
I photographed this bear in a tree in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
And this bear up a tree in Shenandoah
Bears can be a hot topic in the hiker forums. After the recent events where a bear tore up a hiker's tent at a hut in Shenandoah National Park, it makes good sense to learn the facts when encountering these
Bear damage to a tent
animals in the woods.
Most bears are skiddish Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-10997909856506133602017-05-11T21:15:00.000-04:002017-05-11T21:15:03.183-04:00Rain... Part of a Hiker's Life
Blissful in the fog of PA before descending down to Palmerton
I felt like tonight I should blog about rain, since many hikers out this year are going to encounter rain. And not just any rain, but sometimes major events or even tropical systems later in the summer. There can be downpours and strong winds. Heavy stuff. There isn't much weather protection that can keep you and your gear dry in Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-40013693944435958712017-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:002017-05-04T06:00:06.917-04:00Be Inspired to Overcome Challenges and Hike!<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-42590318000362934392017-04-21T16:00:00.000-04:002017-04-21T16:00:07.480-04:00Town Etiquette for Hikers
It happens every year on the Appalachian Trail.
Yet another trail provider has discontinued its use to hikers because of bad behavior. Some businesses
like motels no longer offering discounts to hikers due to ill practices. Or
others have simply closed their doors to hiker traffic altogether. Just a few
years ago the Appalachian Tail Conservancy implemented the trail community
program to Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-76068665286150999412017-03-27T21:07:00.000-04:002017-03-27T20:04:59.181-04:00Sickness on the Trail
It's that time of year once more - when hikers head for the trails and disease follows. The chief complaint on the trail like the Appalachian Trail is the Norovirus, which seems to strike every hiking season.
Noroviruses are found in the stool or
vomit of infected people and on infected surfaces that have been
touched by ill people. Outbreaks occur more often where there are more
people in Lauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20442534.post-46256640711130990102017-03-22T16:30:00.002-04:002017-03-27T19:59:45.025-04:00Lessons Learned on What Works and Doesn’t Work on a Long Distance Trek
Things I have heard to take on a long distance trek that just
don’t work for me. Sorry.
Case in point -
1. Duct Tape – this is the proverbial go-to for first
aid on all types of blisters, holes and / or broken gear,
I’ve used it for years with poor results. I’ve put it on only to
have it fall off, rub my other toes or skin, bunch up, causing more issues. I’ve
tried to repair gear withLauralee Blisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11923463083025047230noreply@blogger.com0